Ennepetal/Frankfurt. Yesterday (April 25) saw DORMA receive the SME award “Hidden Champion” in the “Brand” category, conferred by German news broadcaster n-tv. The prize serves to recognize companies that may not be particularly well known to the wider public but which have nevertheless been instrumental in keeping Germany’s economic engine purring. The patron of the n-tv SME award, now in its third year, is Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Dr. Philipp Rösler.

The Jury’s statement reads: “Over the years, DORMA has enjoyed great success in the management and further development of its brand. The company has exhibited steady growth and has an enduring record of business success. Today, architectural hardware and door control technology from DORMA can be found right across the globe – including in the world’s highest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Here, DORMA systems are responsible for the opening and closing of some 13,000 doors. The new slogan “DORMA – The Access” further strengthens the brand and underlines the company’s claim to be a synonym for access solutions.”

“Having received the Axia Award in February for our successful internationalization strategy, we regard garnering the n-tv SME award in the “Brand” category as further proof that DORMA is well on track to making its future as successful as its last 105 years have been,” commented DORMA CEO, Thomas P. Wagner. “Our thanks for this go to our almost 7,000 employees around the world, and also to the Mankel family, now in its fourth generation, who have consistently invested in the future of the company.”

“As a provider of premium access solutions and services, we need a strong brand imbued with great innovative strength and a clear vision of the future so that we remain the preferred partner for prestige construction projects around the world. The high aspirations that we apply to ourselves and our brand are embodied in the claim: DORMA. THE ACCESS. We want to be regarded as THE synonym for all products involved in the opening and closing of doors – be they floor springs, automatic operators or attendance and access control systems,” added Mario Dreismann, DORMA Vice President Marketing & Sales.

The award ceremonyThe winners were celebrated on April 25 during Global Business Week in Frankfurt. Aside from “Brand” category award, accolades were also conferred for “Sustainability,” “Social Responsibility” and “Generation Transfer.” Grossing the highest score across all the categories, the company Reinberg machine factory took the title of “Hidden Champion 2013,” fending off the challenge of around 100 contenders.

“The mid-cap companies have earned the right to receive public acknowledgement each year through our “Hidden Champion” awards. And this year again we have gotten to know some very successful, innovative and socially responsible candidates, without which Germany as an industrial center would be all the poorer,” said n-tv CEO Hans Demmel, speaking at the award ceremony.

The n-tv SME award is open to all owner-managed companies domiciled in Germany, provided they have at least 30 employees. It is conferred in collaboration with the Maleki Group and UBS.

As ever, all entries were augmented by research results put together by the n-tv business news staff prior to being judged. This was done by a jury of recognized experts with the support of a high-caliber board of trustees.